title: Intake of specific fatty acids and fat alters growth, health, and titers following vaccination in dairy calves.
abstract: Typical fatty acid profiles of milk and milk replacer (MR) differ. Calf MR in the United States are made from animal fat, which are low in short- and medium-chain fatty acids and linolenic acid. Two 56-d trials compared a control MR containing 27% crude protein and formulated with 3 fat and fatty acid compositions. The 3 MR treatments were (1) only animal fat totaling 17% fat (CON), (2) animal fat supplemented with butyrate, medium-chain fatty acids, and linolenic acid using a commercial product (1.25% NeoTec4 MR; Provimi North America, Brookville, OH) totaling 17% fat (fatty acid-supplemented; FA-S), and (3) milk fat totaling 33% fat (MF). The MR were fed at 660 g of dry matter from d 0 to 42 and weaned. Starter (20% crude protein) and water were fed ad libitum for 56 d. Trial 1 utilized Holstein calves (24 female, 24 male) during summer months and trial 2 utilized Holstein calves (48 male) during fall months. Calves (41±1 kg of initial body weight; 2 to 3d of age) were sourced from a single farm and housed in a naturally ventilated nursery without added heat. Calves were in individual pens with straw bedding. Calf was the experimental unit. Data for each trial were analyzed as a completely randomized design with a 3 (MR treatment) × 2 (sex) factorial arrangement of treatments in trial 1 with repeated measures and as a completely randomized design with 3 MR treatments in trial 2 with repeated measures. Preplanned contrast statements of treatments CON versus FA-S and CON versus MF were used to separate means. We found no interactions of MR treatment by sex. Calf average daily gain, hip width change, and feed efficiency differed (CON<FA-S; CON<MF). Days with abnormal fecal scores differed (CON>FA-S). Titers to bovine respiratory parainfluenza-3 and bovine virus diarrhea type 1 (vaccinations to these pathogens were on d 7 and 28) in serum samples taken on d 49 and 56 differed (CON<FA-S). Average and daily maximum skin tail temperatures based on automated measurements taken every 10 min differed (CON>FA-S; CON<MF). Concentrations of urea nitrogen and glucose in serum samples taken on d 7, 21, and 28 differed (CON>FA-S; CON>MF). Calves fed FA-S and MF had improved growth and feed efficiency compared with calves fed CON, whereas calves fed FA-S also had improved measurements related to health and immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Esselburn
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: O'Diam
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Bateman
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aldrich
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schlotterbeck
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D030241:Diarrhea Virus 1, Bovine Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D022241:Parainfluenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D029101:Parainfluenza Virus 3, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D022241:Parainfluenza Vaccines; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid
keywords: calf; fatty acid; health; milk replacer